Another nice night of booze

Was out in Toyko again. Meeting a friend who has been known to knock back a beer or two and can even tell the diference between them (amazing). However, it seems that push ups (press ups) are beyond this particular person.
Started out in Akasaka, Tokyo. I wanted to have a pint of Weston's cider in the Mermaid, as advertised on thier site.
My freind was about 20mins way frmo the station when I got there, so I decided to do a little recce. Interesting place, Akasaka. A lot of rich people walking around and some rather expensive stores. The Mermaid was easy to find. Just leave Akasaka Mitsuke station by the Bellevie (or soemthing like that) building, turning left down the small street. Keep going about 250m or so.
You'll find it on the right side:Ok. looks like a British pub. I was looking forward to a lovely pint of Old Rosie, scrumpy cider (have it at the Warrior Celt). The place looked dead but it was only 4:45. I walked to the entrance and looked at the menu:All my fears came true. Guinness was spelt wrong and Spitfire is one word. So most probably all Japanese staff and possibly not knowing what beers they are serving. Great start. Also, with a choice of Spitfire, Bishops Finger or 1698 (as their website listed), the weakest is by far Spitfire. Though its not a bad drink. Also, it was bloody 1200yen a pint. Screw that. I asked about cider on tap and the Japanese lady told me they didn't have any (it was on their website) and seemed to think I would be more than happy to pay the same price for a small bottle of Magners or Strongbow. I said no thanks and got the f*ck outta Dodge. I have no intention of going back to this place. Nothing any of my friends have said about it so far has led me to chance my mind. ridiculous prices and false advertising on their site p*ssed me off some.

I continued walking down the street, to the 82 Ale House.I knew this place did have their advertised London Pride on tap. The prices were all 1000 or less. They also had the Kirin premium unfiltered beer on tap. First time to see this on tap (you can buy it in bottles in most convenience stores - black label):I decided to come here for a drink with my fwend.

It also appears that they are having a celebration event on Saturday. Because it will be the 2nd of August, this means 8-2 which matches the number of the 82 Ale House. All beers, 500yen? Nice!

I continued walking and found myself near the Biz Tower. I then noticed the PCA bar/cafe/restaurant. I decided to find out what their advertised special beer was. The waiter had no idea what I was talking about and guided me to bottles of heikeken. He said that and a couple of other bottles was the only beer they had. Dissapointment number 2.
Because of this. I took the Mermaid and PCA off the boozelist blog.

I walked back towards the station, but took another street. I wanted to find the Belgian Beer Bar Antwerp Port Cafe.

I did.

It looked quite nice but it wasn't quite open yet. I decided to come back. Especially as they had a happy hour from 5 to 7.

So, I walked back to the station and met my friend and we walked to the 82 Ale House. We both ordered a Kirin Premium. I spoke slowly and I pointed to the poster featuring Kirin premium as I ordered the beers. We were then given two pints of Kirin ichiban shibori. WTF?
I told the nice lady that the beers she gave us were not what we ordered. She soon came back with 2 glasses of Kirin premium. She took the two pints into the kitchen. I hope she didn't pour them down the sink.Not bad but not good either. The head is a bit too false and creamy. The head was fake tasting and got in the way of the beer. The beer is a bit light too but better than standard. 4/10.
Think I prefer this in a bottle. They also have come out with a white version. Had it the previous evening:Again ok but something is missing and tastes a bit 'empty'. 4/10.

After this, we walked to the Belgian place where we were met by a very nice young lady who gave us a brief tour of the place. We realised they had Maredsous 10 on tap - a lucky find.
What's more, there was a happy hour first drink deal where we could get a glass plus a plate of horsedouveres (didi I spell that right? - probably not), all for about 700yen. Not too bad.

It was nice, too:

Easy 7/10 here. Very good beer and very 'Summery'.

Heres another shot, with the bar in focus:

After a nice beer here, we headed off to Shibuya.
Or at least that's what we thought...

...turns out we were travelling in the wrong direction and ended up in Shinbashi. This was a fantastic coincidence, as I really wanted to try this bar in Shinbashi - the Dry dock. They had an interesting guest beer on tap (I just caught the updated website as my last check before leaving the house in updating the boozelist - lucky chance there).
We decided to give this place a go and we were very glad we did. A lovely little bar with an ocean liner kinda feel to it (including nice ocean piped music in the toilet - presumably to mask out the occasional foghhorn blast?).

I started straight away with the guest beer. It was a Greenflash Imperial IPA.
Wow! Hops, hops and more hops (with a bit of hops thrown in). Very bitter. I'd say the IBUs were up there in the insane heights that only 60yr old Japanese climbers dare to reach. 9% alcohol and about 140,000IBUs. But this brew managed to pull it off. I found it quite nice. It slowed me down so that's a plus to start with. I enjoyed savoring this beer and it took me a good 7 minutes to finish. I was told this glass was 400ml but I'm not so sure about that. 1,100yen is a lot but possibly reasonable by Tokyo standards. 7.5/10

I then tried the super dry challenge. It didn't work. I'm not sure if the two beers were suppposed to taste different (one was poured with a huge head and the other as flat as possible). They just tasted like two asahi super drys, one which was gassy and the other flat. Perhaps I missed the point. I'll never know and quite probably never care.
I'm such a bitch!

My friend then ordered a Greenflash trippel ale. Well, she ordered a tripple but what we got was a glass of imperial. We told the nice owner about this. He looked at the beer, shrugged his shoulders, then threw the 1,100 imperial down the sink. We both screamed as he did that.
What a waste of a fine beer! I'd have drunk it happily or paid half price or at least give it to the homeless or something but don't just throw it away! Well, we got the trippel, but at what cost?
Slightly less hoppy and lower alc than the Imperial, this Belgian style brew was still very very nice but I preferred the Imperial. 5.5-6/10
We both enjoyed the Dry dock very much and will return here. The owner is a very nice, extremely knowledgable young man.


Right. We then wibble wobbled our way to the station and made our way, eventually, to Shibuya. The Aldgate was calling us to its dark, inviting, soothing interior.
I also wanted to try a Sankt Gallen Pineapple ale, just because it was a pineapple ale.
Here is the Sankt Gallen pineapple ale, in all it's 'glory':Not quite as bad as I'd feared. Also, not as good as I'd hoped. Still, not a disaster. I must say, I'm not a big fan of Sankt Gallen. I find all their brews very watery and lacking body. But this one seemed like a golden ale with a few drops of pineapple essence. Not as strongly flavoured as I'd imagined. Not a bad drop, though. Quite drinkable and a little refreshing. 4-5/10.

I was getting peckish and I ordered a home made pasty. Chuck Norris does a good job with his pasties. And baked beans is always a bonus.My friend had the cottage pie:Right. Time was getting on and my freind had to get her train home. This was after her boss walking in (coincidence?) and herattempt to do 10 push ups (press ups). I think she got to about 4, but then it was hard to judge. The backward roll she did after flying off her stool was impressive, though. Points for the backward roll: 7/10. I took a point off for slamming into a barstool. Tsk, tsk. Bad form, girl.

Said my farewells at the station then made it to my own station and decided to have the traditional ramen. There's a place in my station called Rasuta. It apparently has nothing to do with Jamaica, although it's called rasuta (rasta) and plays reggae music continuously. Go figure.
They do make an awesome shouyutonkatsu ramen.
Here is the Rasuta special:
Good thick noodles and lots of nice chashew pork. Good stuff. 8/10.

Then, I got home and went to bed (passed out).

The message of this entry is that I was ok but my companion obviously, being a woman, simply did not know her limits.
Tsk, tsk.

There. Let that be a lesson to all you women.
Leave the drinking to us blokes. We know how to do it properly.
I mean real blokes, not those other kind...

Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean...I must apologise.

After all, I quite liked the pineapple ale.